Well-auger.



No. 703,247. Patented Sept. 2, I902.

- 12. u.- NEWELL.

WELL AUGEB.

(Application filed Dec. 1, 1899.)

m: norms PETERS cov PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. n. (L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH O. NEWELL, OF VENUS, NEBRASKA.

WELL-AUGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,247, dated.September 2, 1902.

Application filed December 1,1899. Serial No. 738,939. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RALPH O. NEWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Venus, in the county of Knox and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Earth-Angers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for drilling holes in earth; and itconsists of means hereinafter fully described, and specificallypointedout in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principleof the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a cross-section of adevice embodying my improvement, taken upon the planes indicated bylines 1 1, Fig. II. Fig. II represents a plan view of such improvement.

A hollow cylindrical'drum or auger-blade support A is provided with twooppositelylocated slots a, in which are respectively hinged theauger-blades B'. Secured to the inside of said drum are two springs a,which respectively engage the blades B and urge or tend to urge sameradially outward, so as to project from the supporting drum, as shown inFig. II. Each blade is provided with a stop b, secured thereto, eachconsisting of an upwardly and a downwardly projecting member adapted tocontact the inside of the drum, limit the outward radial movement of theblades, and thereby determine the di-' ameter of the hole or boringwhich may beformed with the auger. An auger-stem O is secured so as tobe coaxial with the drum and to project upwardly therefrom by means ofangle-irons D, secured to the inner drumsurface and the lateral faces ofthe said stem. A double bracket E is secured to said stem and journalstwo pulleys 6, one on each side of said stem, respectively locatedadjacent to said slots at, as shown. The upper end of said stem isjoined with the auger-rod F by means of a coupling consisting of a metalsleeve G, fixed to said rod by means of bolts 9 g. In the lower end ofsaid sleeve is transversely fixed a bolt g, passing into and through aslot 0, elongated in the direction of the stemaxis, thereby permittingsaid stem, drum, and blades to have a limited amount of axial orlongitudinal movement upon said rod. Above said sleeve and passingtransversely through said rod F is a bolt f, projecting laterally fromboth sides of said rod, to which are attached the upper ends of twocords or chains H, which respectively pass around the pulleys e and havetheir other extremities secured to the auger-blades, as shown. Thelength of said cords or chains is made such that when the rod F is drawnupwardly, so as to cause the bolt g to contact the upper end of slot 0,the blades will have been drawn inwardly, so as to substantiallycoincide with the auger-drum, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. II and topermit the said blades to assume their outermost position. (Shown infull lines in said figure.)

In the operation of drilling into soil or earth the above-describedconstruction of the device permits the rod F to assume its lowermostposition, and thereby allow the blades to assume their extreme outermostposition. After a hole has been formed and it is desired to withdraw theauger the rod F is drawn upwardly, the first portion of its movementeffecting no upward movement of the auger. Such first movement, however,effects the inward or closing movement of vthe blades, which is followedby the upward withdrawal of the auger. Such construction and operationof the above described device permits the insertion of curbing into thehole formed having an outer diameter equal to or less than that of saidhole, inasmuch as the auger may be raised or lowered inside such curbingwhile the blades are in their closed position. Such closed position ismaintained by the weight of the auger when suspended from rod F duringsuch raising or lowering.

Other modes of applying the principle of my inventionmay be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, pro- ..vided the means stated by any one of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In an earth-auger, the combination of movement, each bladeprovided with a stop adapted to limit such movement, an augerrodattached to said drum and movable relatively thereto, and cords orchains connecting said rods and blades, whereby said rod may be causedto actuate said blades to withdraw from their outward positions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH O. NEWELL. Witnesses:

J. H. MEREDITH, O. L. BRIGHT.

